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Attention Sophomores and Juniors...
here is what you should be doing NOW!
SOPHOMORES!
While your freshman year was all about transitioning to high school, your sophomore year is all about kicking off your college and career planning. This is the best time to start thinking seriously about what is in store for you after high school. You do not have to make any major decisions just yet, but you do need to start exploring and understanding your options-as well as what it takes to make them a reality.
September
Before heading back to school, review your objectives for this year-and for high school in general. If 9th grade could have been better, get yourself into shape for this year. You've still got time to improve that GPA and get more involved. So...if you have some ground to make up, get started now.
To Do:
*set your goals for the year-both academic and personal
*review your schedule and make sure that you have signed up for the right classes; see your counselor before classes start if there are any problems
*consider taking more challenging courses if you aced your freshman year
*use a calendar or organizer to stay on top of assignments, events, and your social life
November and December
You will be busy finishing out your first semester and preparing for your end of term exams, but it is never too early to start thinking about what you want to do with your future. The more information you can gather about what makes a school a great match for you, the better chance you will have of making an informed choice when that time comes.
To Do:
*Consider investigating the different TYPES of colleges/trade schools. Sophomore year is a great time to learn about the broad categories of post-secondary opportunities that exist
*make sure that you are involved in at least one extra-curricular activity either in or out of school
January
You are halfway through the academic year!! Stay focused, but try to have some fun along the way too (extra-curricular activities are a wonderful way to release tension and stress.)
February and March
You are thinking about summer by now, right? That means summer fun, summer travel programs, community service, work opportunities (especially unusual or creative ones)-anything to bolster your experiences and stay focused!!
To Do:
*if you are still looking for something to do this summer, get moving!
*many programs, especially travel programs, have March application deadlines
April and May
Keep exploring colleges, majors, trade schools, and career options. The more familiar you are with all the options out there, the more you will be able to focus on the things that interest you the most.
To Do:
*speaking of exploring, it would not hurt to familiarize yourself with some scholarships, even ones from local universities and colleges
*a ton of scholarships are based on grades and test scores; many scholarships will ask for a list of activities, letters of recommendation, and sometimes an essay
*in other words, it is important to know now what you will be judged on later
June and July
Congratulations! You made it through your sophomore year! You know what that means...your high school career is half over.
To Do:
*if you plan on attending a summer program, prepare for it
*get a summer job; it will look good on your resume and college applications; plus you will earn some extra money
*touch base with your parents about a saving for college plan
*stay busy by doing things that you enjoy
*college may seems like a long way off, but what you do now will help your chances of admission later
*stay on top of any correspondence from school; you don't want to miss any important deadlines
JUNIORS!
Wondering what you should be doing NOW to start preparing for your future beyond high school? I know it might seem early, but there are some very important things you should be doing to help prepare yourself. Click on the link below to see what those things are and see your school counselor if you have any questions. Do not delay, the time goes by so fast!
September
-Most colleges have gone test optional so SAT and ACT scores are not required. Start researching the colleges you might be interested in and determine if you will need to take either of these tests.
-Be on the look out for PSAT sign up information. The PSAT is a practice SAT test and it is offered in October.
-Set your goals for the year-both academic and personal
-Review your schedule and make sure that you have signed up for the right classes; see your counselor before classes start if there are any problems
-Consider taking more challenging courses if you did well during your sophomore year
-Use a calendar or organizer to stay on top of assignments, events, and your social life
-Continue researching colleges, trades, etc.
-Get in the habit of checking your school email so you do not miss out on important information and updates
October
-Attend the College and Trades Fair/Financial Aid Night held at CNS High School (date will be announced)
-Continue researching colleges, trades, etc.
-Look into doing a Job Shadow this school year; see Mrs. Deaver in the Career Center for details!
-Start to build your list of colleges and trade schools you will want to visit throught the school year
-Stay on top of your course work so you build positive habits for the school year
March
-Register for the ACT (www.actstudent.org) and/or the SAT (www.sat.collegeboard.org) if you intend on taking either of these tests
-Be on the look out for any College Fairs offered in the area and attend those if you are able
-Sign into Scoir and make sure that your Personality and Interest inventories are complete. Then research the different careers that are recommended for you. https://www.scoir.com.
-Check out the list of Junior Scholarships posted on the Career Center Scholarship page. These are college specific scholarships. If you are planning on applying to any of the colleges offering a scholarship, apply for the scholarship if you meet the criteria.
April
-Create/Update a resume in Scoir that lists academic honors, awards, community service, sports, jobs, clubs/activities both in and out of school that you are involved with
-Visit the Career Center to check out the summer college programs and summer job opportunities that are available AND find out information about doing a Job Shadow your senior year if you did not get to do one this year
-Schedule college visits for Spring Break and weekends.
May
-In Scoir, update your list of “Colleges You Are Following”
-Think about what teachers you would like to ask to write your Letters of recommendation for College Applications (most four year colleges will require two letters of recommendation)
June/July/August
-Continue to set up college visits and interviews
-By September, finalize your list of colleges to no more than five colleges
-Register for the August, October, and or November, SAT/ACT if you would like to improve your scores (if these tests are required by your colleges)
-Stay on top of any correspondence from school; you don't want to miss any important deadlines. Get in the habit of checking your school email on a consistent basis!
**LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION ARE NOT NEEDED FOR ADMISSION TO OCC AND OTHER COMMUNITY COLLEGES**
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